'ATS as Signal Operators', 1940 (c)

Colour photolithograph recruiting poster for Auxiliary Territorial Service, artist unknown, published by HM Stationery Office, World War Two, 1940 (c).

The first women recruited to the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) worked as cooks, clerks and storekeepers. As time went on the range of duties expanded and women served as office, mess and telephone orderlies, drivers, postal workers, ammunition inspectors and signal operators. By June 1945, there were over 190,000 members of the ATS from all across the British Empire and Commonwealth.